1967 was a
pop culture phenomenon, culturally the most significant year since the Beatles
premiered on Ed Sullivan less than two months after the Kennedy assassination
in 1963. Aside from the obvious (Sgt. Pepper, The Doors, Our World ("All You
Need is Love"), the Human Be-Ins, etc.), 1967 brought us The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,
which debuted in February as the Nehru jacketed counterpoint to staid American
television. The show beat out Bonanza for the time slot for the first time in
8 years. The variety show's three year run was the best in controversial comedy and
political satire, in addition to highlighting musical artists often unwelcome on
mainstream TV (George Harrison, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, Spanky and Our Gang,
among others). Although there is debate what artist is singly responsible for
the first music videos (from Dylan to the Beatles in A Hard Day's Night), the
first major television appearance of the format was during season three of the
show with The Beatles' "Hey Jude" and "Revolution" and The Bee Gees' "Holiday."
In late
February, Jimi Hendrix and the Who appear at Brian Epstein's Saville
Theater in London. The greatest
enthusiasm that evening went to Hendrix's Experience. Unknowns to British fans just weeks prior,
Hendrix quickly built-up a huge following in London clubs since being brought
there by ex- Animal Caas Chandler. The Who played a 35-minute set including
“Happy Jack,” and “My Generation.”
In March, the 9th
annual Grammy Awards presented Frank Sinatra with the Grammy for Record of the
Year for "Strangers in the Night" (Record of the Year is a track from an LP or
single not written by the artist) and Male Vocal of the Year; John Lennon and
Paul McCartney for Song of the Year ("Michelle"); Best female
vocal performance went to Eydie Gorme for "He Walked Into My Life;" Revolver and
Klaus Voorman won Top Graphic Arts for an Album Cover; and The Beatles for Best Male Vocal -
Contemporary, Paul McCartney for "Eleanor Rigby."
March 1967
would also see the release of the ultimate garage rock single, "I Had Too Much
to Dream Last Night," the Buckinghams’ "Kind of a Drag," the first of three top
ten singles that year, and ultimately, The Velvet Underground and Nico (AM10),
a departure from the norm to the nth degree, and a far cry from Sgt. Pepper’s
psychedelia, the Buckinghams' pop or Burt Bacharach's bachelor pad
stylings. If there was a year in music
to relive, it’s 1967 and we're only three months in.
